As the LORDcommandedMoses,so Aaronplacedit beforethe Testimony,to be kept.
Therewas nothingin the arkexceptthe twotabletsof stonewhichMosesputthereat Horeb,wherethe LORDmadea covenant with the sonsof Israel,when they cameout of the landof Egypt.
"You shall putinto the arkthe testimonywhichI shall giveyou.
"You shall putthe mercyseaton topof the ark,and in the arkyou shall putthe testimonywhichI will giveto you.
"In the tentof meeting,outsidethe veilwhichis beforethe testimony,Aaronand his sonsshall keepit in orderfrom eveningto morningbeforethe LORD;[it shall be] a perpetualstatutethroughout their generationsfor the sonsof Israel.
"You shall beatsomeof it veryfine,and putpart of it beforethe testimonyin the tentof meetingwhereI will meetwith you; it shall be mostholyto you.
"You shall putthis altar in frontof the veilthat is nearthe arkof the testimony,in frontof the mercyseatthat is over[the ark of] the testimony,whereI will meetwith you.
When He had finishedspeakingwith him upon MountSinai,He gaveMosesthe twotabletsof the testimony,tabletsof stone,writtenby the fingerof God.
Thisis the numberof the thingsfor the tabernacle,the tabernacleof the testimony,as they were numberedaccordingto the commandof Moses,for the serviceof the Levites,by the handof Ithamarthe sonof Aaronthe priest.
Then he tookthe testimonyand put[it] into the ark,and attachedthe polesto the ark,and putthe mercyseaton topof the ark.
"But you shall appointthe Levitesoverthe tabernacleof the testimony,and overallits furnishingsand overallthat belongs to it. They shall carrythe tabernacleand allits furnishings,and they shall takecareof it; they shall also camparoundthe tabernacle.
"But the Levitesshall camparoundthe tabernacleof the testimony,so that there will be nowrathon the congregationof the sonsof Israel.So the Levitesshall keepchargeof the tabernacleof the testimony."
But the LORDsaidto Moses,"Putbackthe rodof Aaronbeforethe testimonyto be keptas a signagainst the rebels,that you may putan endto their grumblingsagainstMe, so that they will not die."
"Then I turnedand camedownfrom the mountainand putthe tabletsin the arkwhichI had made;and therethey are, as the LORDcommandedme."
